Automatic coal-spout-swinging device



API13O, 1929. w. H. PHILLIPS 1,711,156

AUTOMATIC COAL SPOUT SWINGTNG DEVICE Filed April 25, 1925 2 sheets-sheet April 30, 1929.

2v Sheets-Sheet Filed April 25, 1925 Patented Apr. 339, MLS.,

' a raras WLLAM .li-I. EHELLIPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOES.

AUTGMATIC COALSPOUT-SWINGING DEVICE.

Application filed. April 25, 1925. Serial No. 25,728.

My invention relates to an automatically operated coal spout swinging device.

lThe improvement herein described pertains to a simplified form of device for automatically feeding and distributing coal into a hopper of an automatic stoker, so that all the parts of the stoker will be amply supplied with coal; the primary aim being to improve upon and simplify the construction at present employed.

One ofthe main objects of my invention is to provide a simple and practical device of this type. Not only has the device been reduced to extreme simplicity, but a very eiiicient operation is obtained which eliminates all periods ofv lag occurring in the movement of the spout, thereby providing a uniform movement of the spout fromr end to end in the vhopper as well as assuring a uniform distribution of coal, and further, overcoming the possibility of the stoker emptying the hopper at points during a time when the spout is at an unnecessary period of rest to permit the device to reverse its movement.

A further object is the provision of a device that may be embodied in a single unitary casing and attached as a unit to the front of the boiler. `With this pronounced improvement, the device may be of the simplest known design and can be manufactured at a minimum cost and installed vwith a minimum amount of labor.

ln order that no time will be wasted in feeding coal to the hopper when. it is desirable to disconnect the device and manually swing the spout, a novel form of detachable connection is provided between the device and the spout.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the lower portion of a boiler having an automatic coal spout swinging device embodying my invention; thisv view showing the device applied to a boiler having more than one coal spout 'and illustrating the manner of providing the device in units to operate more than one spout;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l, illustrating the inter connecting drive between units;

vto swing in a vertical plane back and forth across the front of the boiler 3, and also to be capable of being withdrawn from hoppers i andY swung outwardly, for permitting the operator to obtain a charge of fuel which he may desire to use elsewhere. Handles 5 are attached to the lower en d of the spoutfor permitting manual operation if it should become necessary.

lt is quite customary at .the present time to employ a large'number of such boilers ina single power station. Usually all of these boilers are not continuously operated, but areprovided to take care of peak loads occurring during certain periods of the day. lt will be observed, therefore, that if the spout-s 2 are swung back and forth along the hoppers 4f by men, a correspondingly large amount of labor would be required only during the hours of these peak loads. By employing my invention, it is possible to eliminate this labor required during only a limited part vof the day. A single man may'operate a larger number of boilers when the spouts are mechanically swung by means of the automatic swinging mechanism disclosed herein.

This mechanism comprises preferably a unitary frame 7 that may be made in different lengths and quickly attached as a unit to the front of the boiler. By providing the mechanism as an appliance capable of being attached to the front of the boiler as a unit and requiring a minimum number of connections, I find that-the field for the use of the mechanism is considerably increased and that power plant operators are more inclined to adopt mechanical coal spout swinging devices .because of the minimum expense involved in the original installation as well as in the maintenance thereof.

The mechanism is mounted upon a frame 7, comprisingan upper and lower track 8v and 9 respectively, which are spaced apartY by sprocket carrying plates 10. Tracks 8 and 9 preferably consist of opposed inverted V irons, each having an inwardly extending lateral flange 19 between which the sprocketblocks 10 are bolted as indicated at 11 in Figs. l and 6. Stub shafts 12 and 13 are suitably journaled in these sprocket blocks 10. Shaft 13 extends a suitable distance behind the frame for carrying thereon a beveled gear 87, ,which is adapted to mesh with a second beveled gear 38. Beveled gear 38 is preferably carried on a cross shaft 16, to which is connected a sprocket 17, driven by .means of a chain 18. This chain may extend from the crive of the automatic stoker, if so desired, or it may entend from any other suitable source of power. Sprockets 1st and 15 are carried on the outer or opposite ends of the shafts 12 and 18. lt will be noted inlligs. l and G that this arrangement permits these sprockets to lie, in compact relation, within the plane of the tracks 8 and 9.

And endless belt or chain 18 is carried by the two sprockets 14 and 15 and is adapted, in this particular instance, due to the driving connection leading to the automatic stoker. to continuously rotate about these sprockets for reciprocating the element engaging and moving the chute 2 back and forth across the hopper il, which element will be presently described. l find that the V'shalped Atracks serve, to a certain extent, to protect the chain 18, having the aspect of a housing for the chain, due to the positioning of the chain in the plane of these tracks.

The element connecting to the spout comprises a shuttle 20, designed in the form of a plate. having lugs 21 extending from the four corners thereof. These lugs function as bearings for shafts 22 carrying a plurality of upper and lower pulleys 23 and 24T. These pulleys are provided with V-shaped grooves for riding over the V portion of the tracks 8 and 9. Suitable thrust bearings 25 may be provided for the pulleys 28 and 241, it being here noted that the 'e' formation of the pulleys and the tracks tend to prevent lateral shifting of the shuttle 2l) in its movement back and forth across the front of the furnace At any point on the chain, a pin 26 may be fastened to ride in a vertical. slot 27 formed in the shuttle 20. This pin 25 carried along on the chain and travels about the end sprockets 14: and 15, remaining either at the upper or lower end of the slot 27 when traveling along the upper or lower runs of chain 18, and moving vertically in a slot 27 when traveling about either of these end sprockets 14 and 15. This arrangement is extremely simple and substantially eliminates any period of lag in the movement of the shuttle, due to the pin 26 changing from the Lipper to the lower runs of chain 18. Consequently, the coal is distributed or fed evenly as a result of a uniform travel of the spout 2 at a certain speed back and forth in the hopper 4. lvloreover, it will be noted that this arrangement further permits this spout to travel the entire length of the hopper, which is a decided advantage in this type of device.

Lugs 30 are formed on the outer face of 1e shuttle 20 for receiving in pivotal relation a yoke 81. This yoke is substantially semi-circular in formation'for embracing in forked relation the spout 2. Vhen it is desirable to free the spout the operator needs but throw the yoke lbackwardly on its pivotal fastening and then manipulate the spout by the handle 5.

` ln operation, the chain 18 is driven in the direction of the arrows, as shown, whenever the device is in operation. As the chain 18 moves, the pin 2G travels firstto the right along the upper run of this chain, then around the sprocket 14, then vto the left along the lower run of the chain and then around the sprocket 15 back to said upper run. ln this movement, the pin 26 acts through the slot 27 to move the shuttle plate 20 back and forth along the hopper 4. When the pin 2G moves around the end sprocket 11i, it gradually moves downwardly through the slot 27, causing the plate 20 to have practically no period of rest at this end of its movement. Likewise, the pin will start upwardly in the slot 27 when it travels around the opposite end sprocket 15 until it reaches the upper end of this slot, whence it then continues forwardly along the upper run of the chain. During this time, the spout which is connected to the shuttle is being swung back and forth across the hopper a to evenly distribute coal therein. The movement of the spout is practically uniform between the ends ot the hopper.

-The swinging mechanism shown herein may be provided in any number of units across the front of a single boiler. rlhe number of units so provided depends upon the number of spouts used to feed coal to any particular boiler. ln Fig. 1., there is shown a boiler having a pair of spouts, and

there is also shown a swinging mechanism embodying my invention in the forni of two uni ts, both of which operate in a single frame. rlhe drive from one chain to the other is through a driving connection comprising a chain 82 trained around a pair of sprockets 88 and l-l carried at the inner ends of the shafts 85. lWhere rit is preferable to install this type of swinging mechanism, l find it of practical advantage to arrange the tracks 8 and 9 of both units co-extensive or integral, as shown, so that both units may be carried by a single frame. This minimizes the labor required to install the mechanism, and furthermore permits these units trs.

travel, while the other spout may be movingl downwardly towards the center on its opposite side. "When moving downwardly, this Vother spout will, of course, be assisted by gravity and will thereby tend to impart energy to its chain 18. rhis imparted energy is then utilized throughthe interconnecting chain 32 to overcome the added resistance which the first spout offers to its chain 18 as a result of it moving upwardly against gravity. Any number of spouts may be arranged and driven fromV one source of drive, such as has been illustrated at 18 and consequently I do not intend to be limited to the disclosure illustratedin Figure l.

In so far as the common subject matter is concerned, the present invention is a continuation of my copending application Serial Number 755,466 and'filed December l2, 1924.

I claim: y n

1. In mechanism for use with an auto--v matic stoker provided with a hopper and a hoppeifeeding chute arranged to feed coal into said hopper and to swing back and forth Vto distribute coal along the hopper,` a member movable back and forth along said hopper, and a shuttle connected to said chute, said shuttle being provided with a slotwhich engages said member, saidmember vriding in said slot andcausing said shuttle to swing said chute continuously back and forth the length of the travel of said member'. i

2. In mechanism for use with an yautomatic stolrcr provided with a hopper anda hopper feeding chute arranged to feed coal into said hopper and to` 'swing back and forth to distribute coal along the hopper, a memher movable back and forth along said hopper, and a shuttle connected to said. chute,

said shuttle being provided with a vertical slot which said member, said member riding in said slot and' carrying said shuttle back land forth along said hopper the length of the travel of said member.

stoker, and a hopper therefor, a swinging chute' arranged to move back and forth to distribute coal along said hopper, a member movable back and forth along said hopper, a reciprocating device, a track, means for' guiding said device along said track, and means providing a connection between' said member and said reciprocating device, said chute being connected to said reciprocating device.

5; In combination with an automatic stolzer, and a hopper therefor, a swinging chute arranged to move back and forth to ydistribute coal along said hopper, an endless belt, means for driving said belt, and means providing a continuous movement to said chute comprising a reciprocating device connected to said chute and provided with a slot therein, and a pin projecting from said endless belt and engaging in said slot for moving said device back and forth across said hopper the length of the travel of said pin.

6. In combination with an automatic stoker, and al hopper therefor, a swinging chute arranged to move back and forth to distribute coal along said hopper, an endless belt extending parallel to the swinging of said swinging chute, a track and a shuttle ymovable upon said track adjacent to said belt, and a driving connection extending from said belt for engagement'with said shuttle, said chute being connected to said shuttle.

7. In combination with an automatic stoker, a hopper therefor and a swinging chute arranged to move back and forth .to

"stoker, a hopper therefor and a swinging chute arranged to move back and forth to 3'. In mechanism for use with an auto-v matic stoker provided with a hopper and a hopper feeding chute arranged to feed coal into said hopper and to swing back and forth to distribute coal along the hopper, a memdistribute coal along said hopper, of a mechanically operated chute swinging -device comprising a continuously driven chain, a trackway upon which a shuttle is adapted to travel in a reciprocating motion, said shut-V tle being disposed between said swinging chute and ysaid chain, and means for interconnecting said shuttle with said chute and with a continuously travelling point driven by said chain. Y

9.*Incomb1nation with a stoker and a plurality of swinging chutes arranged to` moveback and-forth to distributecoal along hoppers provided therefor, of a plurality of automatic swinging devices for said chutes,

said devices comprising a plurality of endless chains, reciprocating shuttle-like members driven by said chains and connected to said chutes, and means for interconnecting said Chains so as to operate from a Common drive, said chutes being` connected to said chains at points permitting said Chutes to balance each other in their movements back and forth along said hopper.

10. In combination with a Stoker and a plurality of swinging Chutes arranged to said chains7 and a shuttle for each chain Con-V nected to said chutes at points along said Chains to permit a balanced movement of said chutes.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sub- 20 scribed my name.

WILLIAM H. PHXLLIPS. 

